briggs



June 3, 1924. v

' s. F BRIGGS LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Original'Filed Dec. 13, 1915 3 Sheets-Sheet I WITNESSES ATTOQNEY June 3, 1924. 1,496,450

s. F. BRIGGS LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Original Filed Dec 13, 191.5 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES June 3, 1924.

S. F. BRIGGS LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Original Filed Dec. 13 1915 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATi'ORNEY WI TN ESSES Patented June 3, 1924.

V UNITED STATES] 1,495,45 PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN r. BRIGGS, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, ASSIGNOR To BRIGGS & srRATToN COMPANY, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, a CORPORATION or WISOONSIR' LIGHTING AND IGNITION swrrci-r.

Original application filed December 13, 1915, Serial No. 66,459. Divided and this application filed February 26, 1921.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new,

with a pole reversing ignition switch, the

removal of the key serving to lock the switch with the ignition circuit open and against achange in the connectionsmade in the lighting circuit, and the return of the key and its turning in the lock to unlock the switch serving to reverse the polarity of thebattery ignition circuit.

Another object of the invention is to pro-, vide such a switch with the partsso' arranged that they occupy a small space and.

will still afford the proper insulation, the, construction being inexpensive to manufac-- ture though neat and ornamental in its apearance. I

With the above and other ob ects in view the invention consists in the lighting and ignition switch as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference Midi- I 'a turned flange 19 around the opening.

cate the same parts in the different views,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a rear. view with the switch base removed Fig. 4 is a front view of the switch base with the switch arms shown in dotted lines in the on position of the switch for l ghting the strong headlights and the taillight,

and showing the ignition switch brushes bearing on the live segments to establish the ignition circuit, as when the key is in place;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the change which takes place 111 removing the key, the ignition switch brushes having been shifted to the dead segments, and showing.

the insulating .connector for moving them;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the switch on .the plane of line 66 of Fig. 5;

Serial No. 448,018.

- Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the switch base on the plane of line 77 ofFig.-t; I Fig. 8 is a rear view of the switch with the base and switch member I removed and the lock bolt shown in the locked .Ollf position; Fig. 9 is a rear view of the switch handle with the locking cam sectioned on the plane of line 99 of Fig. 6, and showing the ratchet engagement thereof;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lock ing cam;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, of the keyguide;

-Fig. 12 is a detailed view of Fig. 18 is a detail view of the insulating connector for moving the nition switch brushes.

In these drawings 15 indicates a switch front plate adapted to be secured to the cowl dash or other switch board of an automobile, and 16, is the switch handle centrally mounted therein andadapted to have a limited osci llating movement to assume the various operative positions for controlling thelight-. ing circuit, such positions being preferably marked onthe front plate, as shown in Fig.

1. A flanged'cylindrical casing or shell 17 secured to'the 'b'ackofi the front plate 15 with a disk 18' -therebetween, said disk be ing provided with an opening registering with the opening in the front plate, through which the switch handle passes, and an inscrews 22, and a metal disk 28 on the insulat-.

ink disk forms a bearing plate engaging the edges of the inturned flange 19 to prevent the withdrawal of the switch handle. The limitation in the movement of theswitch the key and, V

pole reversing ig handle is produced by an inwardly bent lug 2-1 out from the flange l9 and project-ing into a recess 25 in the switch handle 16, the en gageinent of said lug with the end walls of the recess limiting theniovementof the switch handle n either direction.

A disk-like switchbase 26 fits in the rear end of the casing 17 and is held firmly in place "by suitable means such as screws 27, its inner surface being provided with a series of concave depressions 28 to receive the convex ends of the spring fingers of the spider in the difierent operative positions of the switch, said convex ends of the spider arms riding over the surface of the switch base from one depression to the next in changing the switch from one position to another. At desired positions these depressions are made in the ends of metal contact studs 29, 30, 31 and 32 respectively which pass through the insulating base 26 and have screws and washers at their outer ends to form binding posts. The position and number of these contact studs and the position and number of the spring arms of the spider may be varied to suit the requirements of' the particular use for which the switch may be designed. As shown, however, the contact stud 29 is intended for connection with the taillight, the contact stud 30 is intended for connection with the bright headlights, the contact stud 31 for connection with the dim headlights, and the contact stud 32 for connection with the battery, and the spider arms are so arranged that in the on position of the switch, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5, they engage the battery contact 32, the bright headlight contact 30 and the taillight contact 29, but do not engage the dim headlight contact 31. Thus the bright headlights and the taillight are connected with the battery. A move ment of the switch one point to the left to the dim position removes the connection with the bright headlight contact and substitutes connection with the dim headlight contact, connection with the taillight and the battery continuing so that the dim headlight and the taillight are connected with the battery, but in the third position of the switch, or the ofi? position, by a further movement of one point to the left connection with the battery is removed so that none of the lights are connected therewith.

The switch handle may be locked in any of its positions by the act of turning and removing a key 33 which fits through a key opening 34 in the end of the switch handle 16. A key guide fits in a bore of the switch handle and comprises a strip of sheet metal bent to a narrow U-forni with its upper ends bent outwardly and rounded to fit the bore. The narrow space between the sides of the key guide is adapted to register with the key opening 34, and flat key when inserted, fits therein with the two horns at its end passing through cut-away parts of the bot tom bend of the key guide to enter a slot 36 in the end of a cam member 37. The slotted end of the cam member 37 rotatably tits in the end of the bore of the switch handle and has a central depression 38 in which the reduced inner end of the key guide fits so as to be capable of turning without turning the cam member and being held in posineeeaso tion thereby for guiding the insertion of the key into the slot 36. Next to the end boss like portion of the cam member 3? which fits in the key guide bore of the switch handle is a ratchet 39 and an eccentric cam 40 prefi erably forming integral parts of the cam member, and a spring pawl 41 secured in place in a recess of the switch handle ongages the teeth of the ratchet to permit the cam member to turn only in one direction with respect to the switch handle. The cam 40 bears upon the bearing plate 23 and fits within a cross slot or scotch yoke opening of a sliding locking bolt 42. The turning of the cam member 37 by means of the key engaged therewith causes the cam 40 to reciprocate the locking slide 42 so as to project first one end and then the other beyond the switch handle and into engagement with suitable locking notches 43 in the flange i9, when the key guide 35 is in position. to register with the key opening 34. Notches 44 in the edges of the key and an enlargement at the center of the key opening 34 permit the key to be turned after it is properly entered and engaged with the cam member 37' though such turning may only be in the direction permitted by the ratchet, and the cam which reciprocates the sliding lock bolt is so positioned that when the slot 36 oil the cam member is at right angles to the plane of the key opening the sliding bolt is within the confines of the switch member, but in the intermediate positions when the groove 36 is in the plane of the key opening the locking bolt is projected at one end or the other through one of the openings 43, thus locking the switch handle against turning.

I At its other end. the cam member 37 is provided with a fiz'inge 45 which fits within a central slot 46. A connecting member 47 of insulating material, shown as a fiber disk, has diametrically opposite notches 48 engaged with a pair of concentric rotatably mounted brush arms 49 which are insulated from each other and sweep over a set of contact segments 50 and 51 respectively. The segments 51 have no electrical connection and the segments 50 which are diammetrically opposite have electrical connection with the binding post studs 52 intended for connection with the terminals of an ignition circuit.

The concentric pivotal mounting for the contact brushes 49 is most clearly shown in 7 and comprises a shouldered, flanged tubular stud 53 passing through the recessed fiber base 26 with its outer edge turned outnrdly to rivet it in place against a metal strap 53 which connects with the battery binding post 32. Around the reduced shouldered portion of the tubular stud and confined between the flange thereof and a metal washer 54 is the ring-shaped end of one of the contact brushes 49 which is thus electrically connected with that terminal of the battery which is connected to the battery binding post. An insulating tube 55 fits within the tubular stud 53, and together with an insulating washer 56 hearing on washer 54 and an insulatingwasher 57 hearing on the turned-over edge of the tubular stud, insulates said tubular stud from a shouldered and flanged central stud 58' which passes therethrough. The ring-shaped end of the other contact brush 49 fits around the shouldered portion and against the flanged portion of the central stud 58 and bears upon a metal washer 59 confined between the shouldered portion ofthe central stud and the insulating washer 56. At the outer end of the central stud 58 its edges are turned outwardly against a metal washer 60 which bears against the insulatin Washer 57, thus riveting together the assemb ed parts in such away that the two, contact brushes 49 may freely swing about the same axis while being thoroughly insulated from each other. the upper contact brush through the central stud 58, a screw 61 being threaded in the outer end thereof to form a binding post therewith for connection with the other terminal of the battery, t

This switch construction affords control of the lighting circuits combined with a control of the ignition-circuit with an efiective locking of the lighting switch in any of its positions with a locking of the ignition switch in its open position by the removal of the key, and having the added feature of reversing the polarity of the ignition circuit each time the key is inserted and turned to unlock the switches. There is thus combined in this switch the protection against tampering with the lighting circuit, and protection against theft of the automobile by preventing the closing of the ignition circuit, and a protection against pitting of contacts in the ignition circuit by the automatic reversal of directionof current therethrough each time the key is removed and replaced.

When the key is in place in the switch the locking bolt 42 isin an intermediate posltion where it will not engage any of the notches of flange 19, and consequently the switch handle 16 may be turned from one position,to another, making connection forlighting the bright headlights and the taillight in the on position, and making connection for lighting the dim headlights and the taillight in the dim position, and disconnecting the battery from all lights in the off position. In any position of the lighting switch with the key in place the ignition circuit is completed by the contact brushes 49 engaging the live segments 50 respectively, said brushes remaining in: contact with the hve segments throughout the sweep Electrical connection is made with of movement of the switch handle 16 by turning with the switch handle. The positive engagement of the pawl 41 with the ratchet teeth 39 causes the cam member 37 to movewith the switch handle when the latter isturning "in one direction and the spring action of the pawl 41 is sufliciently stiff to cause the cam member 37 to turn with the switch handle when the latter is moved in the other direction.

\Vhen, however, the key is turned in the switch handle to a position in line with the keyhole so that it maybe withdrawn therefronn tlie turningof the cam member 37 in cident thereto causes the locking bolt 42 to be 'tt'orced'b-y the cam 40 into engagement with one of the notches 43, whateverthe position of the switch handle may be, and

the turning of the insulating connector 47 which is keyed on said cam member causes the contact brushes 49 to move off of the live segments 50 and onto the dead segments 51, thus opening the ignition circuit.

Theswitch being locked, no change can be madetherein until the key is inserted and turned in the same direction as before, the ratchet preventing its turning in the other direction; In 'turningthe key the contact brushes 49 are'again moved into contact 1 with the live segments 50, but as they have been moved 'just one-half turn their'positions have been transposed relative to the live contacts forming the terminals of the tion combines with the stationary base part consisting of the casing 17 and terminal head 26; a controller consisting of the contacts 21 with their cooperating contact studs 29, 30, 31 and 32; and also asecond controller which is concentric with the first 49 and their cooperating segments 50; and that the cam member 37 constitutes a spinidle positioned concentrically within the first mentioned controller for operating the sec ond controller; that the handle- 16 serves to operate the first mentioned controller; that the key 33 constitutes a removable handle positioned concentrically within the first mentioned handle for operating the second bontroller; that the locking bolt 42 consti tutes a means for locking the first mentioned'eontroller against oscillation when it is'in the off? position; and the cam 40 constitutes a'means operated by the removable handle for disabling the locking means.

controller and consisting of contact brushes 4 It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the particular circuit connections described or to the details of construction, but that various modifications may be made coming within the scope of the in yention as defined by the claims.

This application is a division of the joint application of Stephen F. Briggs and Edward N. Jacobi for lighting .and ignition switches, Serial No. .(56,-t5 9, filed December 13,- 1915.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combination switch, a removable handle, switch contacts, a movable member for .co-operation with said switch contacts, said movable member being controlled by said handle, and other switch contacts controlled. by the turning of the attached handle.

2. In an electric switch, a plurality of circuit contacts, a switch arm engageable with said contacts in succession, a supplementary switch, and mechanism constructed and arranged to lock said switch arm in any of its successive positions and to simultaneously actuate said suplementary switch.

3. In an electric switch, a plurality of circuit contacts, a switch arm engageable with said contacts in succession, a supplementary switch, and mechanism including a removable key which, upon being turned to the position in which it may be removed, locks said switch arm in any of its successive positions and simultaneously actuate-s said supplementary switch.

1:. In an electric switch, a rotatable switch shaft adapted to be set to various positions, a plate movable with said switch shaft, a supplementary switch, and a member constructed and arranged to lock said plate and switch shaft in any position to which the switch shaft may be set and to simultaneously actuate said supplementary switch.

An electric switch comprising a plu- 'ality of contacts adapted to be connected to different circuits, a switch-arm movable to any one of? a plurality of positions to engage said contacts and control the circuit connected thereto, a second switch-arm and contact adapted to be connected to a circuit, key actuated devices for operating said second switch-arm and simultaneously locking the first switch-arm against movement to a new position, and a key for actuating said devices.

6. An electric switch comprising a plurality of contacts adapted to be connected to different circuits, a switch-arm movable to any one of a plurality of positions to engage said contacts and control the circuits connected thereto, a second switch-arm and contact adapted to be connected to a circuit, key-operated rotatable locking device for the first switch-arm, means for operating the second switch-arm by rotation of the locking device to locking position, and means for sustaining a key in position for operating said rotatable locking device.

7. In a switch, a suitably mounted switch handle capable of being turned, a lock for holding the switch handle against turning, a rotatably mounted means adapted to be turned by a key for operating the lock, a

' switch mechanism operated by the turning of the lock operating means, and a switch mechanism operated by the turning of the switch handle.

8. In a switch, a suitably mounted switch handle capable of being turned, a lock for preventing the turning of the switch handle, a key fitting in the switch handle and adapted to be turned therein to operate the look, a switch mechanism operated by the turning of the key, and a switch mechanism operated by the turning of the switch handle.

9. In a switch, a suitably mounted switch handle, a lighting switch controlled thereby, a lock for the switch handle, a key fitting in, the switch handle and adapted to be turned for operating the lock, and an ignition switch operated by the turning of the key.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of two switches, a removable rotating handle tor one, a lock for the other, and means actuated by the rotation of the removable handle for disabling said lock.

11. In a switch, a suitably mounted switch handle capable of being turned, a switch operated thereby, a lock mechanism mounted on said switch handle, a rotatably mounted switch operating means adapted to be turned by the locking mechanism, a removable key for the locking mechanism, and a second .switch operated by said switch operating means.

12. In a switch, a suitably mounted switch handle capable of being turned, a switch operated thereby, a lock mechanism mounted on the switch handle, a switch operating means adapted to be moved by the lock mechanism, a removable key for the lock mechanism, and a second switch operated by the said switch operating means.

13. A pair of switches, a lock for one and the other operated by the movements of the lock.

14. In a pair of switches, a lock for one switch, and a rotating key for operating the lock, the other switch being operated by the rotation of the key.

15. In a pair of switches, a lock for one switch, a key for the lock adapted to be turned therein, and means connecting the other switch with the key for causing the operation of said switch by the turning of the key.

16. In a pair of switches, a lock for one switch, and a rotary key for the lock, the

other switch having connection with the In testimony whereof, I HfllX my signakey to be operated thereby. cure, in presence of two witnesses.

17. A lock switch comprising two switches,

a lock for one, and a removable handle for v STEPHEN B 5 the other, the attachment of the handle and Witnesses:

the operation of said other switch disabling LAWRENCE G. REGNEs,

said lock. Jos. F. Bonn. 

